Butts are not all about aesthetics—building stronger butt muscles will not only improve your speed and explosiveness but will also protect your lower back and knees from injury. Plus, any good butt workout, which can and should include some of these best butt exercises, will target the biggest muscle in your body—the glute max!

Still, you want to be sure you’re working all your butt muscles (and the rest of your posterior chain) to get the most out of your effort. These exercises accomplish all that and more because you’re changing your centre of gravity with each part of the reps.

Following a program that targets the tough-to-tone areas of the glutes while increasing core stabilisation will better your chances of achieving the look you want. Do it two or three times a week using 10- to 15-pound dumbbells; as you progress, increase your resistance to continue seeing changes.

1. Alternating Lunge:

Target Muscles: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip adductors. Perform: 3 sets of 12 reps (each leg)

Alternating Lunge

How to:

  • Holding dumbbells at your sides, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and the BOSU on the ground in front of you.
  • Keep your chest tall and shoulder blades back as you step forward, centring your foot on the BOSU’s dome, and lower into a lunge.
  • Explosively push back to the starting position, and repeat with your opposite leg.

Related article: 28 Day Squat Challenge To Curve And Shape Your Booty Into A Sensational Size And Shape!

2. Split Squat & Press:

Target Muscles: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, deltoids, triceps brachii. Perform: 3 sets of 10 reps (each leg)

Split Squat & Press

How to:

  • Get into a wide split stance, with the toes of your rear foot on a BOSU.
  • Hold a dumbbell in each hand just above shoulder height with your palms facing in.
  • Keep your torso upright, slowing bending both legs to lower.
  • As you return to the start, drive your arms up into full extension.
  • Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position, and repeat for your set before switching sides.

Related article: 5 Squat And Lunge Variations That Seriously Tone Your Backside

3. Side Squat & Front Raise:

Target Muscles: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip adductors, deltoids. Perform: 3 sets of 10 reps (each leg)

Side Squat & Front Raise

How to:

  • Stand with both feet on the BOSU and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing you.
  • Step your left foot out to the side and bend your knees while simultaneously raising the dumbbells in front of you.
  • (Make it harder: take a big step out to the side and keep the legs on the BOSU straight.)
  • Push back to the start and repeat.
  • Once your set is complete, switch sides.

Related article: How to Boost and Sculpt Your Butt With These 5 Hip and Glute Exercises

4. Single-Legged Hip Extension:

Target Muscles: glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings. Perform: 3 sets of 12 reps (each leg)

How to:

  • Lie face up on the floor, with your arms extended at your sides and one foot centred on the BOSU.
  • Raise your non-working legs toward the ceiling and bend your knee.
  • Drive the heel of your working foot into the BOSU and raise your hips.
  • Pause briefly and focus on squeezing your glutes at peak contraction.
  • Lower back to the start, finish your set, then repeat with your opposite legs on the BOSU.

Related article: 6 Exercises To Target The Glutes And Encourage Growth And Strength

5. BOSU Superwoman Extension:

Target Muscles: glutes, spinal erectors, deltoids. Perform: 3 sets of 10 reps (each side)

BOSU Superwoman Extension

How to:

  • Balance on the BOSU on your hands and knees; your palms will be slightly in front of the centre, and your knees will be slightly behind.
  • Keep your arms straight and avoid rounding your spine.
  • Keeping your chin down, extend one leg back and raise your opposite arm out in front of you until both are parallel to the floor.
  • Hold this position for two seconds before returning to the start.
  • Complete all reps using the same arms and leg before switching sides and repeating.

Related article: Feel The Burn And Watch The Change In Your Glutes With The 20-Minute Leg And Butt Workout

6. Single-Legged Donkey Kick:

Target Muscles: glutes, spinal erectors, abs, obliques, thighs. Perform: 3 sets of 12 reps (each leg)

Single-Legged Donkey Kick

How to:

  • Get into a plank position with your forearms on the BOSU and your eyes focused on a spot directly below you.
  • Maintain this position as you bring one knee toward your chest then extend your leg behind you, reaching it up as far as possible.
  • Finish your set, then switch sides and repeat.